Re: The IWW -- Always opposed to violence

The IWW remains an important part of our history and it is rich in the 
traditions of radical direct action politics.

The Capitalists, owners and management feared the Wobblies becuase their 
tactics of an injury to one is an injury to all and organizing anyone and 
everyone who had to work in order to make a living undermined their control of 
the work place. 

If a strike was happening and scabs were being called in IWW members would 
mingle in with the scabs, explain the situation and get the scabs to join the 
strike. 

If the bosses tried to stop free speech then the Wobblies one after the other 
would get up and speak. They would get arrested and then filled the jails 
forcing the criminal justice system to close down. 

Solidarity meant just that and if one group of workers were on strike the IWW 
would never cross a picket line. The greatest fear was the tactic of the 
General Strike. The IWW knew how to organize such strikes like they did in the 
Iron Mines and farmworker camps of the great West.

All these things today are called "Red Unionism" and I would rather be a "red" 
unionists then a sell out and become business as usual unionist.

I too counted myself Lucky to know and meet one of six brothers who refused to 
go to WWI and all members of the IWW. In 1969 Jack was already in his late 
eighties and he shared with me how they resisted even the authorities when they 
came to force them to join. They simply refused and filled up the Ulster County 
jail. Knowing him and his brothers taught me what is really needed to change 
our country and make it right. Many wobblies were Native Americans and the IWW 
was not a sexist or racist organization. That kind of stuff was never tolerated.

Another truth is they all wrote poetry, sang songs, played an instrument each 
did something creative in their own way. There were also the totally political 
but the great majority were all working people the unorganized industrial 
workers. Utah Philips I met in 1977 and he is still out there fanning the 
flames of discontent. He is one of the grat Wobblies of our age.

So on May 4th, 2002 there is going to be Community-Workplace Conference being 
organized by the Women Workers for Justice  and the Workers Democracy Network. 
All working people, organized, unemployed, unorganized, community based, 
undocumented are invited. It is a conference being organized and run by working 
people. Working people who are being hit hard by all the recent attacks and 
lowered living standards and civil rights. If anyone is interested you should 
call 609-406-7857 or 609-575-5544. It is open.

Long Live the Inspiration of Joe Hill and Frank Little! Big Bill Hayward, Jack 
Reid, Mother Jones, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and Eugene Debs. Remember Lucy and 
Albert Parsons and embrace their ideas, visions and courage.

Thank you Hunter Bear! For keeping the tradition going. It belongs to all of us 
WE SHALL BE ALL  WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!

comradly


Tommy Siblo


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"[C]apital comes dripping from head to foot, from every pore, with blood and 
dirt."
--Marx, Capital, Vol. 1, Chapter 31

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